Drug Abuse Resistance Education

The internationally recognized anti-drug education program, D.A.R.E. is taught to fifth and sixth grade students in the Manitowoc Public School District, St. Francis Middle School, Bethany Lutheran School and Immanuel Lutheran School.

The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program, founded in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department, familiarizes young people with the hazards of drug abuse and violence, and teaches them practical ways of resisting pressures to become involved with drugs and violence.

All lessons are taught by a uniformed police officer, with at least two (2) years of full-time law enforcement experience, who are selected to attend an intense training program for two (2) weeks prior to being certified to teach the lessons for both elementary and middle schools.

Fifth grade students are taught the "Keeping it REAL" Elementary Program which emphasizes making safe and responsible decisions. Students learn to:

Exercise self control, particularly when under stress and pressure.

Identify the risks and consequences of their choices.

Make safe and responsbile decisions.

Communicate more confidently and effectively.

Become safe and responsible citizens by learning how to help others and know how to get
help.

In sixth grade students are taught the D.A.R.E "Keeping it REAL" Middle School Program and continues to promote ways to effectively resist drug offers. The REAL in "Keeping it REAL" stands for the core lessons which teach four (4) ways to resist drug offers - Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave. The lessons are based on more than 20 years of research about why youth use drugs.

The middle school "Keeping it REAL" program is an evidence and science based program listed on the National Registry of Evidence based Programs and Practices (NREPP).